Your panel box is the main hub of your home’s entire electrical system. It routes the power that comes into your home through a series of circuits. However, panel boxes don’t last forever. We will review the key signs that it’s time for an upgrade.
You Want More Power
If your home was built before the 1980s, it’s likely that it has less than 200 amps of power. Most houses built before this time had about 60 to 100 amps of power, which made sense in those days. However, anything under 200 amps is unlikely to meet modern electrical demands.
You may notice that your lights seem to be flickering when you run your dishwasher or that you’re constantly tripping your circuit breakers. When this happens, it’s a key sign that you need more power coming into your home. To safely handle the control and diversion of that power, you need to have a professional electrician replace your existing panel box. In many cases, you may also need to add more circuits to your home.
There’s Visible Damage or Corrosion
One of the more obvious reasons to replace your panel box is physical damage or corrosion. If your panel box sits in an overly moist environment, its metal housing will be susceptible. This can affect the functioning of your box and leave the wires exposed, which can be highly dangerous. Replacing a damaged or corroded panel box is necessary for everyone’s safety.
Your Circuit Breakers Are Outdated
Another reason that you may want to invest in a new panel box is because your existing circuit breakers are outdated. When your circuit breakers constantly trip, they may be defective. To replace a circuit breaker, you’ll typically need to use one of the same brands as the panel box. If your panel box is fairly old, you may find that its breakers are exceedingly expensive and hard to find. Sometimes, just upgrading to a new panel box is the cheaper option.
Your Panel Box Is Obsolete
Electrical panel boxes have a lifespan of between 20 and 50 years, depending on numerous factors. If your panel box is over 40 years old, it may be time to consider replacing it. Doing so will increase your home’s resale value and give you more peace of mind about the functioning of your home’s electrical system. If your box still has fuses instead of circuit breakers, an upgrade will help you to create a safer home environment, too.
You Want Smart Technology Integration
Another reason to upgrade your existing panel box is to introduce smart technology. New smart panel boxes work with integrated smart breakers to wirelessly connect to an app on your smartphone or tablet. This can allow you to receive alerts when a circuit breaker trips, reset a circuit or even kill the power at the main breaker, all from the convenience of your smartphone.
You Need to Rewire Your Household
If the existing wiring in your home is extremely old, it can be hazardous to your home. Older wires tend to lose their insulation, which makes them more susceptible to dangerous electrical arcing. If you invest in upgrading all the wiring in your home, upgrading your panel box also makes sense. This is because the electrician will have to disconnect all the old wiring and install all the new wiring. You’ll likely be able to get a panel box replacement at a discounted rate, as compared to simply getting the replacement service done at another time.
You Want Protection From Electrical Storms and Power Outages
If you live in an area with electrical storms, power outages or other disruptions, a whole-home surge protector is a good way to protect your home electronics. These protectors typically require a new panel. An additional upgrade that you may also consider is a switch that allows you to power your panel through a generator.
Reliable Electrical Panel Upgrade Service
E&W Electrical Solutions offers the Tennessee’s Jackson and Paris communities reliable electrical panel upgrade service. We can also assist with all your generator, commercial, green energy, EV charging and electrical repair needs.
Call us at E&W Electrical Solutions today to schedule an appointment with one of our highly knowledgeable electricians.
